Emily Dickinson Lexicon

AL'MUG, or AL'GUM, n.

In Scripture, a tree or wood about which the learned are not agreed. The most probable conjecture is, that the word denotes gummy or resinous wood in general. The Vulgate translates it ligna thyina, and the Septuagint, wrought-wood; others, ebony, brazil or pine, and the Rabbins render it coral. It was used for musical instruments, staircases, &c. The thyinum is the citron tree, from Mauritania, much esteemed by the ancients for its fragrance and beauty. The almug, almugim, or algumin, or simply gummim, is most probably a gummy wood, and perhaps may be the shittim, often mentioned in Scripture. See 1 Kings x. 11. – Calmet. Encyc.